SDNWorld Redux: Story Thread the Fourth

[Lonestar]

Corvid Rock C&C Bunker, 8 months ago

Captain William Wade was in a nightmare that wouldn’t end. The Dominion Ranger had served as for 23 years in the ODA, first as a enlisted grunt then commissioned as an officer during the One Week War. In his time he had fought in Kanawha, border skirmishes with the rock-chuckers, war with the rock-chuckers, security operations in the Shepistani Security Zones, and finally, the latest war, the campaign to destroy the Cortez Regime. The 1st Airborne was dashing forward in an attempt to cut off the exiting Sirnothi forces…

…And just like every other time, the CA101 he was in got hit by a MANPAD, spinning downwards. He crawled from the crash, his kit torn and ripped, and pushed the corpse away from the M60 dangling from the wreck. He swung the ancient LMG at the swarm of Sirnothi Peoples Assault Force, screaming “Get Some! Get Some!”. Grenade exploded to his side, turning his right arm into a ruined wreck. But something was different this time…

There’s a fog…


“Herr Doktor, he’s waking up.” Came a strange voice.

“Then it seems as if the HERV variant has done it’s work, ja? Mr. Wade? Can you hear me?”

The fog soon began to lift. There was the sound of an HVAC running somewhere, and rather than the dry, hot Sirnothi landscape he found himself in a dark, damp room that put him in mind of the thousands of bunkers spread throughout the Old Dominion. An elderly man appeared before him.



“Mr Wade, I am Dr. Blitzschlag. Can you hear me? Can you understand me?”

“Where…where am I?”

“You are in a secure government facility in the Western Shepistani Security Zone. We very nearly lost you, but it seems as if we have successfully snatched victory from the jaws of defeat! You are a marvel of science!”

Wade’s mouth suddenly felt dry.

“They shot me, oh Hell my arm. I thought I took a hit in the skull…how am I still alive?”

“The Old Dominion cannot allow a man of your caliber just die.” Blitzschlag said. “Especially considering your genome is particularly receptive to modified strains of the HERV pathogen. Forgive me, but this was a chance we could not pass up. You fit into the .005% or so of the population that wouldn’t suffer from runaway cancer cells, uncontrollable vampirism, or insanity. Well, much insanity.”

“Wait, wait.” The fog was almost completely gone now. “Vampires? The alien vampires? I’m a vampire? Or an alien?”

“Nonsense. You are as human as me.” Blitzschlag said. “You have served your country and people with distinction, and by helping your country one more time we have saved your life. There is a Colonel Loup from BMI who is going to offer you a position to continue to serve as a field agent with BMI. We would, of course, be greatful if you take it.”

“…my arm…”

“You will become a recipient of a brand-new Combat Optics Mk 30 artificial limb. In many ways it will be superior to your original, although you won’t have much sensation. Of course, you are now much superior to your original self…although too much exertion will expedite fatigue. If you want, you can discuss this with your family…”


“I’m divorced and I hate my brother.”

“Ah, well then! The decision is yours!” Said Blitzschlag, who knew damn well what his family situation was.



2 Months ago

“Master Sergeant Hartman would have had a woody to see you go through the course at that speed.” Colonel Loup of the Bureau of Military Information said. As it happened, he had been a Ranger as well before getting injured in a car wreck and ending up at BMI. Him and Wade knew many of the same people. “How are you doing, Bill?”

“I am feeling…excellent!” Wade responded. Really, he felt like a million bucks. “Getting a bit stir crazy…”

“Well, I’m glad you decided to stay on. We have a mission for you and a team we’re putting together. San Fuego. The Lord Protector has decided that, in the interests of civilized discourse throughout the Impact Crater, the time is right for San Fuego to join OICAS. Sadly, the San Fuegan government steadfastly refuses to see reason. In addition there are about 5,000 former Shepsiatni “military advisors” on the island under the command of one Imran Siddiqui. We believe Colonel Siddiqui is the driving force behind keeping San Fuego out of OICAS.”

“He thinks he’ll be handed over and killed if San Fuego joins?”

“Bingo. And we cannot just invade willy-nilly, for some reason CATO would interpret that as a naked land-grab.” Loup looked up at the sky as if to wonder at the absurdity of the though. Wade’s hideously scarred face grinned. Loup continued.

“Now, we happen to have made contact with a dissatisfied San Fuegan general. If Siddiqui is removed, then he will move in. If he’s successful, then we have our man in place. If not, well, all that chaos will demand a military intervention, purely from a nation building perspective. The time is right, Siddiqui has been arming San Fuego with Japanistani equipment, but his contact with the Kempeitai recently met an unfortunate end in Sirnoth. By a CATO operative, believe it or not. “

“So, parachute in?”

“It will ultimately be your decision, as team lead, but probably not. San Fuego now has as good a air defense system as a nation that size can afford, probably subsidized quite a bit by the Japanistanis. They have similar defenses in place on the coast, so a submarine insertion isn’t likely either…”

“Then how…?”

[Pollux]

Berezalug, Misteria

The BTR trundled slowly through the mist and debris, a dozen or so soldiers sitting atop its hull, weapons in hand. There had been a momentary lull in the fighting, as the army fell back to better positions in the neighboring city of Dubozemsk, and the NDF soldiers did the same in the opposite direction, pulling back to makeshift bunkers and fortifications in the rubble of the once beautiful city of Berezalug. Now, the army was probing back into Berezalug, with helicopter support, searching for weak points in the NDF line.

As the BTR moved further through the smoke and filth of the warzone, suddenly a truck turned the corner from a side street and barreled down, its back packed with screaming NDF troops bringing their rifles to bear on the APC.

The BTR's turret lit up, peppering the engine of the truck, which promptly slid on the muddy asphalt to a violent stop in a crater, before bursting into flames. Twenty NDF were hurled dramatically through the air, one getting impaled through the bowels on the remains of a lamppost

The soldiers, meanwhile had flown off the BTR, darting for doorways and piles of rubble, their rifles cracking as they picked off the remaining NDF men. But it was not over yet: another truck rounded the corner, accompanied by the fthoosh of a rocket from a nearby building. The BTR exploded, showering the area in white-hot metal. The truck spun around to dispense its cargo, before speeding back off into the ruins.

The NDF troops were many, but they were untrained and foolhardy. They took careless risks, advancing when it was not safe, getting cut down by fire when it would have been easy to avoid it. By the end of the firefight, thirty two NDF soldiers lay dead, several others running back into the fog from which they had come.

The Misterians had lost eight, not counting the crew of the BTR. The four remaining soldiers began to slink back to the safety of the Army's fortifications.

It was going to be a long fight indeed.

[Shinn Langley Soryu]

Empyrean City International Airport, Misteria


Refugees gather near a Langley Air Force C-17 in hopes of boarding it

With the aerial cordon lifted and the NDF on its way, the Langley Air Force crews seized the opportunity to bug out with as many refugees as they could carry out of there.

William and the other transport crews scrambled to get to their planes, attempting to push through the crowds of refugees desperate to get aboard as well. The Misterian Communist soldiers assigned to take care of the refugees tried their best to keep the evacuation orderly, riding alongside them in UAZ-469 utility vehicles once they were out on the tarmac; William and his comrades hitched rides out to their planes aboard BTR-70s that had been airlifted in to support the Commies.

Once they were reunited with their aircraft, the Langley Air Force pilots and loadmasters immediately set out to work, preparing their aircraft to take on refugees. A company's worth of Langley Army light infantry had come in on the transports to help distribute supplies alongside the Misterian Communist troops; now that they had been given their weapons back, they were going to help defend the refugees and the transports from the NDF.

"We gotta divert back to Belapol first, refuel there, and drop off the refugees before we proceed to Van Halstoff," William said as he began the startup procedure for his C-17. "Here goes nothing, I guess..."

With the NDF on its way any moment now, the Misterian Communists and the Langley Army troops began the ponderous task of herding refugees onto the transports. The C-17s were quick to fill up with people and equally quick to take off, but the Antonovs were a different story altogether; while their large size meant they could carry significantly more people, it took much longer to fully load them up, and they required practically the entire runway in order to take off.

"Come on, what's taking so long?" one of the An-124 pilots complained. She got on the radio to the company leader. "How's the evacuation proceeding?"

"We're out of time!" the company leader replied. "NDF forces have already broken through to the airport, and even though the Commies have done a good job fortifying this position, it's only a matter of time before the NDF actually gets out onto the tarmac! Most of the refugees have already left aboard the Globemasters and whatever else could fly; the last of them should be getting on board the Antonovs right now! We'll be right behind them!"

As much as the Langley Army troops wanted to tear up some NDF goons with their HK416s and Ultimax 100s, they ultimately had their orders to follow; they were just there to pass out food and medicine, not engage enemy forces. Once the last soldier was aboard, the four Antonovs closed up, taxied out onto the runway, and took off. All the NDF grunts could do was watch as the An-124s took to the skies towards Belapol...but one punk with a Strela-2 thought he'd get lucky today.



After taking the time to line up his shot, he fired the missile and was taken down by a Commie sniper soon afterwards. Missile lock warnings blared in the cockpit of the unfortunate An-124 that had been targeted.

"Releasing countermeasures!" the copilot of that An-124 barked as he hit a button.

A barrage of flares and chaff blossomed from the colossal cargo craft as it continued on to Belapol, with the Strela-2 falling for the ruse all too easily; while it could actually be lethal under certain circumstances, the Strela-2 had a tendency to be easily fooled by even simple flares.

After depositing the refugees at Belapol, the Globemasters and Antonovs would refuel before proceeding on to Ying AFB in Cascadia's Van Halstoff Territory to pick up humanitarian supplies (and, in case it was needed, additional ammunition for the troops). William and his comrades all knew of the long job that lay ahead of them, and they would do their best to accomplish it.

---

RESULTS:

The evacuation of Empyrean City International Airport is a success, with the Langley Air Force airlifting approximately 2,500 refugees alone; countless others make it to safety aboard commandeered civilian airliners.

[DarthShady]

RED ONE: UCSR Initiates offensive operations in Misteria, NDF rebel troops under heavy bombardment

On request from the New Communist Government of Misteria and in the interest of protecting innocent civilians, the UCSR has begun a massive bombing campaign against rebel NDF troops. Long range bombers from the motherland initiated the first strikes against NDF positions just hours ago and we also have word that the fleet originally dispatched to Misteria to secure foreign citizens and assist with the refuge crisis, has begun launching offensive strikes against NDF Positions.

The ULYANOVSK Carrier: UNS "Ivan Drago" and it's support ships launched attacks against NDF targets, followed by full scale guided high-precision weapons bombing runs.

Air superiority was easily achieved by Union fighters, as the NDF itself possess no anti air capability to speak of and is helpless against the might of the Union's forces.

Spetnaz and Black Hand special forces have been inserted into Empyrian City via airlift to secure foreign embassies and locations important to the evacuation of foreign citizens and refuges.

PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT

We bring you now live to the Palace of the Soviets, where President Shady will be making a statement...

"Citizens of the Union and of the world, the last couple of days have been quite eventful and have shown us the dark side of human nature once again. The situation in Misteria has become quite dire, NDF troops have rebelled against the rightful government of Misteria and with their actions have endangered not only the lives of the Misterian people but also the lives of foreign citizens. On request from the Misterian government and in the interest of protecting the innocent people of Misteria from the rogue NDF troops - the UCSR's military forces have begun launching offensive operations against the NDF traitors. It is the intent of the Union to bring this conflict to an end quickly and efficiently."

"The traitors who have turned against the Misterian people will not be allowed to endanger any more innocent lives. I would like to personally ensure all foreign governments who have citizens in Misteria that the Union will do everything it can to safely evacuate foreign nationals and deliver them to their respective governments.

Thank you all, for your attention..."

Palace of the Soviets, Stasograd, UCSR

"So it has begun.", Yuri said, "The NDF traitors will be crushed and we may gain a new ally, once this is all over of course."

"Indeed.", Kane, the late arrival to the meeting said with a smile, "And not only that, but we also get some good PR by helping out with the evacuation of foreign citizens."

President Shady was strangely quiet as he watched the live feed from the Misterian conflict.

"Provided that the MESS propaganda machine doesn't try and use this against us.", Yuri frowned.

"They can't do shit.", Kane said, "Our actions are completely beyond reproach, we are there on the invitation of the Misterian government and to protect the lives of their citizens. They would be fools to try and spin this against us."

"Indeed.", Yuri nodded and glanced at the President, "Comrade president, you have been strangely quiet, is something wrong?"

"Are you kidding?", Shady laughed, "I haven't had this much fun since the Border State Wars."

[Shroom Man 777]

Collecting evidence had gotten old a few hundred bullets back. I was already so far past the point-of-no-return I couldn't remember what it had looked like when I had passed it.

Farbanti, Shroomania



After Micheal Thomas had left in a hurry, Prime Minister Shroom and ex-President Sidney Hank decided to carry on without him and have a grand old time - just like the good old days. They had a lot of catching up to do, a lot of things had happened since the last they met, so they made the most of what limited time they had before they'd both head separately to the Tri-Cities at PeZookia.

Right now, they were at the Continental Club - enjoying the fine ambience of a place that was opulent and patronized by the affluent and well-to-do of Shroomanian high society.

"Now, what have you been up to?" Shroom asked the ex-President. "For a man who's retired, you seem to be pretty busy."



"Yeah," Sidney replied, enjoying his warm mug of tanna tea. "After all, a man's gotta keep himself occupied even after he's retired, keep himself alive. I've been doing some construction, some... prime real-estate development. Making a nice little spot for myself where I can have some peace and quiet, way outside of the rest of the world's prying eyes. If you catch my drift."

"Where you can do whatever it is that you are doing," Shroom grinned. "Nice ring."

"Oh, you noticed?" Hank raised his hand to display his serpent ring. "It's my serpent ring. What do you think?"

"It's quite eye-catching," Alison replied, eyeing the exquisite piece of jewelry. "So, you'll be joining the Prime Minister at PeZookia for the Tri-Cities?"

"I'll be at my own yacht, but I'll be participating. Maybe I can drop over and say hi to Queen Agatha and her kid. Is Paul going to be there?" Sidney asked just as he finished his tanna.

"Nah, he'll be at Shinra." Shroom answered, saying the word 'Shinra' with a slight tone. "But he better watch out, might catch the geostigma."

"He'll be alright," Hank dismissed. "As long as he uses hand sanitizer after shaking Rufus' hand."

"Yeah." Shroom said quietly. He remembered his meeting with Rufus Shinra, who was wheelchair bound and wrapped in bandages. "That deformed cripple."

To which, they laughed.

Of course, geostigma was no laughing matter. It was a virus that had mutated and jumped from pigs to androgyne albinos in Shinra, before coming into contact with their Jenova cells and contaminating normal human beings. But so far, it was just a nasty flu that could be contained with enough Lifestream. It was still just endemic to Shinra, with all the proper travel restrictions imposed on the diseased and the albinic and androgynous preventing the disease from infesting other lands.

So they laughed some more.

"Mang, that's just mean!" Alison jokingly protested.

"But what can I say?" Shroom tried to catch his breath. "It's the truth!"

"And that's what they get for their anti-Shroomitism," Hank chuckled. "Serves 'em right!"

"Yeah, those goddamn Mess-" Shroom stopped as he noticed something at the corner of his eye. He turned his head and motioned Sidney and Alison to quiet down. "Wait a minute..."

Their table was at a quiet corner of the Continental Club, but it afforded them a good view of the small stage that was at the Club's center. There was a piano, with a pianist playing some nice ambient tunes, but soon he was joined by another figure being illuminated by the stage light.



She stood there on the stage, under the lights, with her radiant red hair and eyes of blue, wearing her slinky little black dress. She picked up the microphone and as the tunes of a Billie Shroomiday classic played out, she sang in her husky sultry voice:

"Am I blue
Am I blue
Aint these tears, in these eyes telling you
How can you ask me am I blue
Why, wouldnt you be too
If each plan
With your man
Done fell through

There was a time
When I was his only one
But now im
The sad and lonely one...lonely

Was I gay
Untill today
Now hes gone, and were through
Am I blue..."

She finished with her song and her audience applauded as she walked off the stage and went towards the Prime Minister and ex-President's table.

"Would you mind if I joined you, Shroom, Alison and...?" she recognized the ex-President of the NFT almost immediately, but decided to play with the introductions.

"Hank," playing along, Sidney got up and introduced himself. "Sidney Hank. And no, we wouldn't mind at all, Miss..?"

"Lady," Anethga smiled and seated herself. "Lady Anethga, of the unfortunately-exiled Sirnothi nobility. How's your retirement coming along, Mister Hank?"

"Quite pleasantly, Mi'lady." Sidney smiled. "And you? How goes your..."

"My exile?" Anethga laughed. "As good as it can get. Sirnoth was nice, but then the nobility was all crusty with all its quaint formalities. Now that we've been driven off across the sea, I actually find exile in Shroomania quite invigorating. A Lady could never sing onstage in front of a plebian audience back in Sirnoth."

"It is a nice nation, I'll say," Sidney agreed. "I think I actually bought a very posh flat... somewhere in Farbanti, and the big city's the perfect place for shopping."

"Though I've heard that San Dorado's no slouch in that department, either." Anethga said as a waiter finally approached and got her order, a Shady Screwdriver vodka. "I'm actually planning to see San Dorado someday soon."

"If I'm around the neighborhood, I could give you a tour. Nothing beats a helicopter's-eye-view of the Super Spectacle Sights." Hank offered.

"Mmm... you could show me the Power Tower, too." Anethga speculated.

"Real smooth with the introductions, Prime Minister." Alison said quietly to Shroom.

[Lonestar]

Bush Lumberg show


My friends, the forces of CATO have once again revealed themselves for the hypocritical weasels that they are. It is obvious that, whenever the COMMUNIST leadership talks about avoiding interfering in other countries, they actually mean "unless it furthers our own godless Marxist goals."

Now I know what you are saying, "But Bush, some of the members of CATO aren't very communist at all!" Which ones? Only the NFT really meets that designation, the rest are so socialist they give the Librul party here in the Old Domnion a hard-on. As for the San Doradons, it's clear that the communist paymasters of the UCSR are using the nFT to further their own ends, witness the former General Secretary's speech to that effect in Cascadia.

The time is 11:37.

[Master_Baerne]

Baernish Intelligence Service Headquarters
Castleton, Sabrino County
Sovereign Duchy of Baerne

Deep underneath a nondescript apartment building in one of Fortress Baerne's suburbs, the Media Analysis Teams of the BIS were largely focused on their work, their eyes glued to their computer screens or the assortment of paperwork that needed to be completed for each report. MAT 3, however, although it's eyes were just as glued, was noticeably less serious. In point of fact, they were only managing to escape outright laughter through a massive effort of will.

"They think we're communists?"

"Hey, we should ask Count Sabrino what he thinks about that - Minister of Economics always enjoys a good joke, I hear."

"Why stop there - I'm sure the Duke could use something to brighten his day!" That was too much, and a snicker escaped the second operative's tightly clenched lips. The unexpected merriment brought their supervisor over.

"What's so goddamn funny?" he said gruffly.

"Just the Dominionites, sir. One of their talking heads thinks we're communists - actually, he said we were crazy-liberal Socialists." Another slight snicker.

"Well, that's all well and good, but focus, gentlemen. Information won't discover itself!"

"Yes, sir."

RESULTS: The world's most aristocratic nation is amused.

[Shroom Man 777]

Based on this amusing FOX News segment.

SHEPLAND SHOWS Old-D OICAS LIVE on ShroomSat/StratTV
FAIRFOX NEWS
BARE AND BLENDED


12-YR-OLD DOMINIONITE GIRL CAUGHT IN MISTERIAN CONFLICT

Blenn Geck: With the recent mayhem in Misteria and the beginning of the Crimson-Shadow CATO offensive, thousands, tens of thousands, maybe millions of refugees are streaming out of the wartorn wasteland - displaced and dispossessed in a humanitarian crisis of soon-to-be-unforeseen proportions! Caught in the crossfire in this conflict, a 12 year old from outside Bakalakadaka Street, Alisha Ackmed, who was in Misteria with her auntie! She was with her family members in a cafe before bombs started falling down and she hid with her uncle in a basement before she was evacuated by plane to the UCSR - I mean, to the Old Continent - before taking a flight home from Sarajevo.

Now, Alisha Ackmed and her aunt Babushka live with us from our Williamsburg bureau. It's great to see you, welcome home.

Alisha: Thank you.

Blenn Geck: I cannot even imagine sitting in a cafe and bombs start falling. I've been in wars with rock-chuckers where that happens, but when you were there there wasn't really a war happening, it started when you were there. Describe for us what that was like.

Alisha: It was really scary, I didn't know what was happening. All of a sudden people were coming into the cafe, and it was just so scary.

Blenn Geck: Where did you go, what did you do?

Alisha: We called my uncle and he came t pick us up and drove us to his house. We ended up hiding in his basement for a night.

Blenn Geck: And there were bombs falling all the time?

Alisha: Um.. I didn't see any bombs but before I say anything else, I just want to say that I was running away from rebel NDF troops attacking our city not Crimson troops. I want to say thank you to the Crimson troops who were helping us out.

Blenn Geck: Um... where is your family right now and... uh... how are they?

Alisha: Um... some of them are, some of my cousins, aunts and uncles are staying in Sarajevo right now and they're safe, but my grandma and some of my aunts and uncles are still back there and, I dunno, we don't have any contact with them. I don't even know if they're alive or anything.

Blenn Geck: Wow, I know you're aunt is with you. This... I cannot even imagine, seeing a twelve year-old going through this, it must be terrifying.

Aunt Babushka: Yes, it was frightening for all of us and the main thing that I wanted to say on television is that it is the NDF rebels who are the aggressor and that if it were not for the Crimsons and Shadows we would still be there and would not have gotten out, that the Crimsons and Shadows saved our lives and their soldiers got us to the airport and took us to Sarajevo and if it were not for them, then we would've never gotten home. I know you didn't want to hear this.

Blenn Geck: Umm... uhh... yes, I didn't, you goddamn war-orphaned whores... I mean, damn. I would never want to cut you off but we've got to go to commercials and we'll be back without you after these words from our sponsors!



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[Siege]

'Factor Fatale', with Julie Fatale, global broadcast on Worldwide One



“... and finally on today's 'Factor Fatale' a shout-out to my colleague – and believe me, I use that word loosely – that old fatty Bush Lumberg, who once again managed to spectacularly miss the point this week. I know you all remember his hilariously misinformed rantings from the good old time of tension? Well that wasn't enough for bumbling Bush, who had to one-up himself by calling the entirety of CATO a devious Marxist plot to interfere in other countries. Interfering in other countries, yeah, that's something no hot-blooded god-fearing Domino would do, am I right?”

Roll on snare-drum.

“Typical Domino idiocy and hypocrisy notwithstanding I bet a great many viewers are wondering what to make of the UCSR bombing of Misteria. Well let me tell you folks: I have no particular love of commies, but you won't hear me complaining about the Reds kicking the arses of the murderous revolutionary pricks they got up there. The sooner these guys see the light - and hell, that can be the light of reason or the light at the end of the tunnel for all I care -, the sooner we can do business with 'em. Besides in the end it's still commies bombing commies, so regardless of who loses we win, am I right?”

“Alright folks, that's all we got time for today, check in tomorrow for our next show. We from the Factor will return to the situation in Misteria then, and we'll also give attention to the political situation in Cialan. 'Till then!”

[Raj Ahten]

Klavostan, Near the Border with the CFR

Once the ex Colonel Stomper had accepted the mysterious job offer from the ISIA man Cortez he had been told to recruit 60 men for a commando type operation. Stomper had demanded to know what the men would be needed for, and more importantly, what the mission would be. One couldn't very well hand pick men properly if you didn't now what they were to be used for, now could you?

Cortez had told Stomper only that the mission was to be a hostile extraction against heavily armed opponents and Cortez wasn't authorized to tell him more until he was on the ground in the target country. That level of paranoids security was not encouraging to Stomper because it was likely to hurt the mission. The Colonel had done his homework on Cortez though and from what little he had find out the man had a very good reputation. Hopefully he knew what he was doing.

Now the Colonel and his hand picked command team were inside Klavostan having been snuck into the country in Conex containers. Some very rrough looking gentlemen had then escorted Stomper's team to an old ranch and waited.

A few hours later a beat up old land Rover pulled up. Stomper was surprised to see Kumal, the secretive head of Klavostani security forces exit the vehicle with the ISIA man Cortez.

"Good day Mr. Stomper."
Started Cortez,
"Meet Mr Kumal. I'm sure you've heard of him?"

"Of course. So what exactly can we help him with."

As ice cold as ever Kumal said,
"We have a situation that is sticky politically. We've found that a mercenary Captain by the name of Masim al-Akbar is harboring the top figures of the RUF; Troy Vortisch, Edward Bradley, Greg Springfield, Alan Cordell; all of them. You are to capture them instead."

Cortez took over at that point. He seemed to be having far to good of a time.
"You know how it is; if Kumal went directly at a powerful captain it might upset the careful balance we've worked so hard to set up here. That's where you come in."

Stomper knew all too well about these sorts of ops. He was the ultimate disposable asset; being no longer part of the Indhopolese army made him totally deniable. Normally for these sorts of missions Indhopal would hire Klavostani's, but Hasim would likely hear about it and besides, Klavostanis didn't attack each other on the bidding of outsiders. Except for Kumal that is, but he was a right bastard even by twisted Klavostani standards.

"Well,"
said Stomper,
"If we are to be on a black op at last its to bring in trash like the RUF. I take it we have no support though?"

"Not entirely,"
replied Kumal,
"I'm providing full intel and logistical support but for the op itself you are on your own. You'll also have this compound to plan and train on for the mission."

"You seem so dour Stomper,"
said Cortez as he took off his sunglasses to polish them,
"Cheer up! You're going to be bringing in the most wanted criminals on the continent. What's more, you'll be bringing them in before they can get into any more mischief. We have good reason to believe they are soon going to be returning to the CFR to wreak havoc. I'm sure you realize how bad such developments would be for Indhopal given the current situation there?"

"Yes I understand; rising tensions, the fate of the continent in the balance, etc, etc. What else is new in this business? I've been there, done that and got the T-Shirt to prove it. Tell me this: Who gets to keep the bounties on their heads?"

Cortez smiled like a wolf as he spoke,
"My dear Stomper, those bounties will belong to whomever places the targets in Indhopoli custody. We figured a little incentive never hurt anyone."

Stomper smiled thinly and said,
"Well lets get started now shall we?"

Edit: For Spelling

[Pollux]

Empyrean City

As the last UCSR bomber turned back to refuel, the once bustling city at last, for the first time in centuries, fell silent, save for the crackling of the odd fire here and there. Smoke rose up from the rubble to mix with the fog, blanketing the ruins with a thick cloak of haze, as if the earth itself was trying to conceal Empyrean, and what had transpired there.

But suddenly, the PA system, in the places where it was not destroyed, crackled to life with the powerful strains of The Internationale. The chant echoed through the ruins, bouncing off cracked concrete walls, cratered asphalt, burnt wood, and bullet-ridden cars, getting louder and louder until it seemed as if a choir of ten million was singing.

But no one was to be seen at all.



RESULT:

The NDF is routed, with 60,000 of their number killed after the bombing is done.
The remaining NDF troops (about 15,000) are surrendering or fleeing into the countryside.
Empyrean City (or rather, what is left of it) has been secured by the Misterian Army.

[Bluewolf]

Stasograd, UCSR, 9:00 pm


The plane was embarking on its last diplomatic visit for a little while and Michael Thomason sat down, wide awake. The dream, though soothed by the experience he had had in Shroomania (one he regretted that he could not stay longer and one that he was going to make sure he would come back too) was still active in his mind and the fear that something like that may appear once again robbed him of any sleep that he may of sought after. This was going to be the climax of his diplomatic visits and this was where he was going to have to apply the most skill.

“Which I don’t seem to damn well have at the moment!” He thought to himself, annoyed as he noticed he was a bit of a mess. His suit was in a in a mess, as was his hair. “I can’t go and looking like a complete idiot to them.” There was a pressure he had not felt before with his visit to Byzantine and Shroomania. He had a sense that he was going into the heart of CATO and her power itself and he would need to make sure that everything would go smoothly. Everything had to be proper and nothing could make the unrest and anger of potential membership worst. “Lord knows there are enough crazy idiots who think CATO is a collection of freedom eating dogs”. Michal was reminded of the various political cartoons which portrayed just that and often, far worse.

Michael looked down to see Stasograd; fully in her illuminated glory. He could make out the airport runway lights close ahead and as the plane slowly started to bank down for its landing, he could see people forming into a group nearby. Obviously it was the usually press and fanfare.

“Ok, don’t screw up” He whispered to himself as he sorted his suit out.

“Try not to have nightmares after we leave OK?” His aide said as she smiled“ The communists won’t eat you or anything.”

“No, but the press back home will” He replied back with a chuckle. “What will the headline be you think? Prime Minister Michael Thomason licks CATOs’ boot or Prime Michael Thomason kills the baby kittens of freedom?

“Nah, more like Prime Minister Michael Thomason sells our souls to the Red Devils”.

“You could become a tabloid editor with such creative headline ideas” He replied.

“You should be glad I am not”. She said, picking up her briefcase. “Anyway, as they say, into the breach once more”.
The plane finally landed as usual, nothing out of the ordinary and the largest diplomatic mission Michael had been to in while was about to start.

Cialan National Television studio, Stanton




“Welcome to Question time with me, your host, David Wimblely. Our panel this evening is Julian Markie, Wolven Peoples Party MP, Sarah Jane, editor of the morning star, Mike Brick, Minister of Foreign relations, Tom Dickson, Mayer of Deveni, Mark Rain, CNP MP and Julia Hown, columnist writer in Let’s Do It magazine.”
There was the usual applause


“Now to start with a very popular question that is going to be on people’s minds. You, there in the red jumper, please say it.”


The slightly podgy middle aged man stood up. “Do you think Cialan should join CATO, even after the backing of several CATO nations or should the country maintain its independence from it?” A ripple of muttering and booing went through the audience.

“Let’s start with you Mr Rain, what do you think”.

“Personally I think this whole debacle, this whole shameless process has been so far and will be the biggest failure in the Prime Minsters life.”

A loud applause burst out with some cheering. It was clear what side the audience was on.

“He has betrayed the political values of our predecessors; he has back tracked on his promise to keep Cialan out of meddlesome hands. He may be paving a road with good intensions but there is no doubt that it’s a road to hell and the backings of archaic imperial Emperors WONT make this any better. The backing up of deranged Prime Ministers WONT make this anymore honest, nor will the crooked words of a meddlesome oil drenched retired fat cat who just happened to lead CATO’s capitalistic pig sty will make it any better either. Even the ice cold smile of communist rulers who hand out guns and pocket money to revolutionary governments that are like them, despite threatening to murder our troops, won’t improve anything. Of course they will say they are nothing like insane MESS expansionists or Japanistani torturers. They may also throw all the goodwill and offers that they like yet this WONT make it any better and in the end its Cialan’s very existence and soul that is being sold away here tonight.

The audience boomed with applause, people stood up cheering and Mark Rain looked slightly surprised at the amount of people who had agreed with him. Any booing was quickly drowned out, as was any objection from Wimblely or the rest of the panel. It had if he his words had tapped into the hearts and souls of many and in the end there was little he could do but sit back and watch in slight amazement. For a whole few minute more it went on until it finally died down. Tom Dickson dared to speak out against this little speech.

“Frankly, how you characterise other nations and how they are is something quite sickening. It’s like colonial stereotyping. You seem so fast to jump on the bandwagon to blame CATO and all its flaws when you do not look at the evidence and weight up. You merely are playing on peoples f-

“Excuse me.” Mark interrupted. “I am not playing on people’s fears at all. The idea that I am brewing the concept of this fear up is frankly something very apt of you and who you support. I am merely relaying them and in fact, I have looked at the evidence and its clear. Like a mouse to a cheese trap ; that though it may look nice at first, there is a far deadly danger. Our country will no longer be considered its own. It will merely be another CATO nation smeared in red for their enemies to bomb. It won’t be Cialan anymore. It will just be another CATO state. How we live and what we do will be dictated like we are children. So the idea that I am playing on fears is sheer stupidity. I am EXPRESSING the fears of the people and the people matter the most! Not the words of some men who act like dogs, sniffing each other’s rears tenderly and yapping for resources like the good little dogs they are.”

Again, with that an applause broke out.

Result:

Michael Thomason goes to Stasograd to discuss CATO.

The fear of CATO starts to spill over and be shown everywhere, with CNP and WPP MP’s taking full advantage of this.

[Steve]

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer


Pacific Union proposal accepted by Grant legislature; formal ratification up to Alaska.

FORT SHERIDAN, GRANT - After many days of deliberation the Grant legislature has approved the Union Proposal. Leaders of all supportive parties praised the measure and successfully called in adjournment in honor of the passage while members of the gallery responded with cheers.

With their acceptance Cascadia as a whole has backed the new Pacific Union, leaving only Alaska as still undecided. The Fairbanks and Alyeska provincial legislatures have approved the Union but a fiierce ratification fight remains to be waged in the provincial governments of Barrow and Nome. Experts believe that at least one of these legislatures as well as that of the Aleutians must approve the proposal before the deadlock in the Alaskan national legislature is broken.

Retconned: Spoiler

Cascadian government issues complaint over strange Shroomanian customs procedures involving phantom illness.

FARBANTI, SHROOMANIA - The Cascadian State Department filed an official protest with the Sovereignty of Shroomania over that government's continued insistance on tight government inspection and quarantine of all commercial loads from the American continent. The Shroomanian measures were approved by Prime Minister Shroom, citing the threat posed to Shroomania by a disease he says is called "geostigma". In several statements the Prime Minister has claimed this unknown disease is spreading across Shinra and may threaten a global pandemic.

Experts in Cascadia have repeatedly informed the Shroomanian authorities and press that, in the words of Dr. Calvin Lawrence of the University of Puget Sound, "There is no such thing as 'geostigma'. It doesn't exist, there is no such pathogen on this continent, these inspections and quarantine are unnecessary."

Responding to the point that no case of geostigma has been reported in imports from America, a Shroomanian customs officer speaking anonymously stated, "Well, obviously, because we catch any contaminated goods and prevent them from being brought into Shroomania." When questioned as to why there are no public records of such contamination being found the officer answered, "It's just the usual paperwork foulup. Look, trust me, geostigma exists, mate. Going by my mates' words in the pub there are cases of it all the time. It's even left President Shinra crippled and stuck in a wheel chair, poor chap."

Recent public footage from Shinra show that President Rufus Shinra is healthy and not forced to ride in a wheelchair.

Congressman Paul Fletcher of Olympia has indicated that if Shroomania does not either lift the "onerous, embarrassing" customs inspections and quarantines or provide concrete scientific evidence of the "geostigma" existing, he intends to introduce a resolution in Congress to levy retaliatory tariffs on Shroomanian goods and has asked any future Pacific Union government to do the same. "The Shroomanians like to act mad, but I think this is just some bizarre protectionist scheme," one of Fletcher's staff said in a conversation. "Yeah, it's crazy, but these are Shroomanians we're talking about."

[Master_Baerne]

Baernish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Encrypted Communique
TO: CATO Ministries of Foreign Affairs
FROM: Her Excellency Countess Domizia, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Your Excellencies,

We hereby formally request permission for a series of state visits to your nations, to be made by His Grace the Duke in the following order: UCSR, Pezookia, Shroomania, Byzantine Empire, NFT.

Sincerely,
Countess Domizia

[DarthShady]

Michael looked down to see Stasograd; fully in her illuminated glory. He could make out the airport runway lights close ahead and as the plane slowly started to bank down for its landing, he could see people forming into a group nearby. Obviously it was the usually press and fanfare.

“Ok, don’t screw up” He whispered to himself as he sorted his suit out.

“Try not to have nightmares after we leave OK?” His aide said as she smiled“ The communists won’t eat you or anything.”

“No, but the press back home will” He replied back with a chuckle. “What will the headline be you think? Prime Minister Michael Thomason licks CATOs’ boot or Prime Michael Thomason kills the baby kittens of freedom?

“Nah, more like Prime Minister Michael Thomason sells our souls to the Red Devils”.

“You could become a tabloid editor with such creative headline ideas” He replied.

“You should be glad I am not”. She said, picking up her briefcase. “Anyway, as they say, into the breach once more”.
The plane finally landed as usual, nothing out of the ordinary and the largest diplomatic mission Michael had been to in while was about to start.

As the plane came to a stop and opened to let it's passengers out, the welcoming committee lead by President Shady Sirah shuffled a bit to welcome the new guests. Many members of the press were present and trying to get the best pictures of the event and the participants. As Prime Minister Michael Thomason exited the plane, President Shady moved forward to greet him.

"Comrade Thomason welcome to Stasograd.", President Shady smiled. "It's been a while since we last met." Shady said, remembering the Prime Ministers visit to Sarajevo a few years back, when he was still Premier of the USSR. "Much has changed since then."

"Indeed it has." ,Thomason smiled and shook the President's hand, cringing inside a little bit at the 'Comrade' remark. "I am happy to be here now, for this historic moment to my country."

"And to the CATO alliance.", Shady smiled, "Heraclius tells me you want to join CATO. I must say, I'm glad to hear that, you have my support. But let us discuss such things later." President Shady gestured at the waiting press and limousines.

After a few statements to the press and many pictures taken, the Presidential limo convoy began moving through the streets of Stasograd, on it's way to the Palace of the Soviets.

OOC: I need to know how many of the other CATO mangs will be present in Stasograd. I know Shroom, Paul and Hank are busy on their boats and diplomatic talks, but what of the rest of you?

Baernish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Encrypted Communique
TO: CATO Ministries of Foreign Affairs
FROM: Her Excellency Countess Domizia, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Your Excellencies,

We hereby formally request permission for a series of state visits to your nations, to be made by His Grace the Duke in the following order: UCSR, Pezookia, Shroomania, Byzantine Empire, NFT.

Sincerely,
Countess Domizia

UCSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Encrypted Communique
TO: Her Excellency Countess Domizia, Minister for Foreign Affairs
FROM: Yuri Andropovsky, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Your excellency,

We would be most honored by the visit of your Duke, we shall set up the arrangements and we hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,
Yuri Andropovsky

[Siege]

DIPLOMATIC COMMUNIQUE, PRIORITY THREE
FROM: Office of Charlie Duquesne, NFT Directorate-General for External Relations
TO: Her Excellency Countess Domizia, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sovereign Duchy of Baerne

Your Excellency

The North Frequesuan Trust and President Willy Bank will be most happy to receive His Grace the Duke at the earliest convenient moment.

Cordially,
Charlie Duquesne
High Commissioner for External Relations

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Baernish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Encrypted Communique
TO: CATO Ministries of Foreign Affairs
FROM: Her Excellency Countess Domizia, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Your Excellencies,

We hereby formally request permission for a series of state visits to your nations, to be made by His Grace the Duke in the following order: UCSR, Pezookia, Shroomania, Byzantine Empire, NFT.

Sincerely,
Countess Domizia

Your Excellency,

Byzantium would be most delighted to host you and your entourage.

Yours Sincerely,
Byzantine Emperor Heraclius IV

[Siege]

Headline, San Dorado Times

INDHOPAL ARMS DEALS TO EXPAND
A major weapons sale to the Republic of Indhopal was announced today by Ralson Concerns LTD. The deal includes the purchase of a license to produce the F-111X tactical bomber as well as the sale of an undisclosed numbers of S-2 Silver Star military orbiters, and an option on a similarly undisclosed number of future aerospacecraft.

According to a spokeswoman the Syndicate has already signed off on the deal, signalling a continued eagerness on part of the NFT to do business with the Republic of Indhopal. A highly placed source with the Sub-Directorate for Frequesuan Neighborhood Policy divulged to this publication that Indhopal is considered 'a vital partner and ally' on the continent and a 'bulwark against imperialist ambition'.

Indhopal is one of the most important customers of Trust arms manufacturers going back to the days even before the FTO. Indhopal recently purchased a large number of SSGNs from Blues Brothers Shipyards, as well as significant numbers of UM-1 missile batteries and S-1 Silver Streak orbital fighter-bombers.

Unknown at this point is how various CATO allies feel about the sale, and in particular about the inclusion of large numbers of military spacecraft. Byzantium, Shroomania and the UCSR are not currently selling space technology to states outside the bounds of the alliance.

In the wake of the announcement Ralson Concerns stock prices went up 6.24% finishing at $42.50 when the SDSE closed.

[Raj Ahten]

Indhopal Threatens to Send in Paratroopers at Miratia Conference!

As the five way talks continue in Miratia, Indhopoli negotiators said that if the official agreement wasn't finished by the end of the month Indhopal would consider sending in the 2nd Airborne Regiment to secure the Northeast section of Mortimer's claim. They said critical time was being lost on the the ground and that there was no good reason for the treaty not to be signed given everyone was in agreement on the major points.

Many analysts believe Indhopal is concerned that Tian Xia and the Vineyards, already with troops on the ground, might be stalling for time in order to reorganize Mortimer's claim as they see fit.

Results: Lets get the ball rolling here .

[Shroom Man 777]

Spoiler

From: The Ministry of Shroomanian Homeland Affairs in Foreign Territories
To: The Cascadian State Department

The Sovereignty of Shroomania's official policy does not encompass particularly heightened customs protocol on Messican, specifically Shinran, visitors or immigrants aside from the standard Fungal Union Disease Department (FUDD) and Mushroom Organization of Medicine (MOM) protocol regarding the assessment of health status regarding incoming foreign persons and Shroomanian citizens returning from foreign lands. These measures are to minimize cross-contamination and spread of communicable diseases to and from Shroomania.

Similarly, the Sovereignty also encourages all its travelling citizens to undergo quick health assessment prior to journeying abroad so that their health status will be clarified to inspecting foreign customs authorities.

Also, the Prime Minister's private statements pertaining to 'the horrid geostigma infestation of Shinra' and the 'grotesque disfigurement of President Rufus' have no bearing on official Shroomanian foreign policy.

As those statements were made outside the public eye, it has become a question of the SHAFT and the Shroomanian Secret Service (SSS) as to how information of the Prime Minister's private conversation were obtained - and for what purpose were they disclosed to the public without prior consultation of the Sovereignty and the explicit permission of His Most Imperious Minister.

The SHAFT and the SSS are most concerned in light of this breech of the Sovereign's sanctity and we are not amused.

Good day!

Signed,

Lord Melchett McMeistervater
Minister of SHAFT

Spoiler

LIVE on ShroomSat/StratTV
The Sovereign Shroomanian Sentinel
GRUMBLING GARRETT'S GREAT GAWKING GEOSTIGMA GAFFE


"A good son should've known." President Rufus dispells the rumors of alleged illness and shows himself to be in peak physical condition.

In response to recent diplomatic demands by the Cascadian government, the Sovereignty's Ministry of Shroomanian Homeland Affairs in Foreign Territories (SHAFT) - together with the Fungal Union Disease Department (FUDD), the Mushroom Organization of Medicine (MOM) and the Ministry of Shroomanian Trade Affairs and Business Budgetary Economic Regulation (STABBER) - have issued joint statements explaining and clarifying the misunderstood Shroomanian custom policies regarding Messican, specifically Shinran, immigration and imports.

"These Cascadian demands are the result of a gross misunderstanding of Shroomanian medical policies, that is all. There's a contrieved and controversial Cascadian confusion regarding a lot of things, most especially the geostigma." Chief Director-Doctor Edwin Elmer from FUDD said in his broadcasted statement to the Cascadian State Department.

"While Messicans, specifically Cascadians and Shinrans, might wonder as to what exactly the geostigma entails, they just haven't realized the fact that the geostigma is simply a colloquial Shroomanian catch-all term for all the communicable diseases and sexually transmitted illness brought to Shroomania en masse by Messican sex-tourists, particularly those from the Shinra Republic. Thus, because of the amount of people infected by these mixed diseases - some eight hundred plus Shroomanians and an indeterminate amount of Messicans, including the Shinran sex-tourists and Shroomanian sex-workers afflicted with diseases ranging from AIDS to Zygomycosis - the geostigma has really made its impact on Shroomanian popular culture."


The popular perception of the geostigma.

The negative connotations of these illnesses resulted in the coining of 'the geostigma' - complete with 'the' and italics. The term is usually associated with Messicans, almost always Shinrans, and has entered Shroomanian pop-culture usage.

"These foreign STIs, coupled with the fact that recently various seasonal flu strains have been brought to the country by non-sex tourists either coming from Messica, specifically Shinra, or by Shroomanian sex-or-non-sex-tourists who are returning home from Messica, specifically Shinra, has caused the Mushroom Organization of Medicine some concern and thus lately the FUDD and the MOM have had no choice but to enact mandatory screening for travelers coming from Messica, specifically Shinra," added Doctor Gregor Hausenhorn, a notable Byzantine physician and main member of the Mushroom Organization of Medicine (MOM).

"These screenings include basic infrared temperature scans, done by customs officers at airports and harbors, no more intrustive or inconvenient than metal detectors or other standard security measures," Dr. Hausenhorn continued. "More intrusive measures are reserved, however, for those exhibiting flu or flu-like symptoms. These measures can range from simple throat-swabs and sputum collection to urine tests and stool exams, all of which are administered by healthcare professionals. Should something abnormal turn up, then - and only then - mandatory quarantine will be enacted."


Dr. Hausenhorn presents the various available medications for the geostigma.

"As a preventive measure, however, the Mushroom Organization of Medicine has been working hard to produce large quantities of vaccines and specialized antibiotics as a preventive and curative measure for those threatened or afflicted by the various pathogens entailed by the geostigma. The latest and most effective antibiotic goes by the brand name of Lifestream, and is generically known as Materia."


After the medical dissention, Director Donoval Dick of STABBER took to the stage to explain the exact nature of the geostigma and Shroomanian customs' inspection and quarantine of certain goods.

"The Sovereignty of Shroomania imports prodigious quantities of bull-semen to bolster the quality of the man-meats and moo-moo milks of our livestock. We also import beef from Messica and other countries - but lax foreign regulations have resulted in the geostigma getting into bad beef and poor pork, namely some of the products were infected with mad cow disease! We've got to tighten our regulations with the meat and semen imports if the Shinrans won't watch what they're peddling! Because of lax quality-control, we've had to shift meat sources from Messican meats to Byzantine beefs and PeZookian porkloins!" Director Donnoval Dick explained.

"But these safety regulations are for the sake of the health of consumers in Shroomania. I hardly see why Cascadia or Shinra feel the need to impose outright sanctions on us. Instead of taking steps to assure us that their meats are actually safe to put in our mouth, they're threatening to levy tarrifs at us. That's just bad business."


To round it up, SHAFT's Lord-Minister Melchett McMeistervater takes the stage and sums up all the points.

"To round it all up, I'll take to the stage and sum up all the points," Lord-Minister McMeistervater began.

"These tightened regulations are part of Prime Minister Shroom's healthcare initiative. In light of the Pathogen War and the risk of pandemics, the Prime Minister's propositions made absolute sense - and still do now. The healthiness of Shroomanian citizens is tantamount to national security. Well, the Prime Minister did work in the healthcare profession for a number of years, so he should know about these things...

"Thirdly, as a direct response to the Cascadian State Department - and undoubtedly to the Shinran one as well - is that these tightened Shroomanian customs regulations are partly due to the fact that the Messican nations, especially Shinra, have been rather lax in the enforcment of their own healthcare regulations.

"This current misunderstanding can be resolved if Cascadia and Shinra, and others as well, encouraged quick checkups for their travellers - where those fit for travel and are un-sick are given clean bills of health which they can present to foreign customs when they travel abroad, and those un-fit have their exact health status clarified - rather than forcing the Sovereignty's governments to check-up every sick Shinran heading for Shroomania.

"This, and assuring the Sovereignty of the quality of their import products to be free of the geostigma or any other contaminant - thus alleviating our worries - would do greatly to improve the current situation and would be far more constructive than Shinran sanctions or Cascadian contrabannings and trade tariffs.

"Moreover, it would ensure that people traveling to and from our respective countries are actually healthy and not diseased by anything - up to and including the geostigma."


Results:
The geostigma is a very broad Shroomanian catch-all phrase for foreign illnesses brought in by travelers, particularly dubious Shinran sex-tourists. It refers to everything from HIV/AIDS to this world's equivalent of AH1N1.

The Shroomanian regulations would be eased if Cascadia and Shinra, and others, assure us that their travelers ARE in fact healthy. With clean bills of health that they can present to Shroomanian customs.

These measures were all emplaced by the wise Prime Minister Shroom the 777th, who WAS a healthcare professional and DOES know what he's talking about, and are meant to PREVENT crazy cross-contamination brought about by sick people traveling just anywhere. Which is what happens in REAL LIFE, with everything from SARS to AH1N1. In light of the Pathogen War, this does make MORE sense.

My proposition ensures that travelers between our countries are healthy and devoid of diseases that will contaminate the places they are visiting. It is much more constructive then imposing tariffs at me because I keep on ribbing RogueIce.

Also...

Steve. You're next.

[Shroom Man 777]

LIVE on ShroomSat/StratTV
Brought to you by MacMillan Megacorporate Mass Multimedia Marketing:
SING-ALONG STEVE - STEPHEN GARRETT'S GREATEST GOOD-OLE GOLDEN OLDIES!

[Siege]

Concorde, en-route to Stasograd

Former president Sidney Hank relaxed as the shriek of four afterburning turbojets at full power take-off burn levelled off into the high-pitched buzz of level flight. He'd have preferred to fly one of his own private jets, but they were all still on Frequesue and the official request to fly to Stasograd to represent the NFT at the signing ceremony had come as a surprise. He shrugged and sipped his iced tea. It was only a short flight to Stasograd, so for this occasion the chartered Concorde would do.

Sidney reminisced briefly on a similar flight he'd undertaken years ago, on the eve of the NFT's own entry into CATO. That seemed like a lifetime ago now. He smiled as he watched the clouds pass by far below the aircraft. Time flies when you're having fun...

A beep on the hastily installed VTC set broke his reverie. He pressed a button and his smile broadened as the face of his wife appeared, beamed into the supersonic aircraft from half the world away. “Hey dear, what's up?”

Daphne Sinclair appeared slightly concerned. “What's this I hear? You're headed for Stasograd?” A faint frown creased the brow of the President of San Dorado.

“Only a short detour for drinks and fireworks honey. I should be back on the yacht in no time.”

“Still... Don't we have ambassadors for this sort of thing?”

“Ambassadors... And me” he shrugged. “Plus Shady's an old friend, I was in the neighbourhood and Bank personally requested I attended” he counted on his fingers. “And I have to justify my exorbitant fees in some fashion, don't I?”

“Like we need that money” Daphne scowled. “Look, I don't want you to get overworked again. Plus there's this rumour that the Lord Fairfax might be attending too. The last time you had anything to do with him you ended up in a hospital for weeks.”

“The last time I had anything to do with him I was preparing to chuck nukes in his general direction” countered Sidney. “This is rather different. I'll just have a few drinks with Shady, reminisce about the good old times, and then I'm headed for the Tri-Cities as planned. It's just a goodwill tour, there's really nothing to worry about.”

“And after that?”

“After that I'm coming home. I promise I won't be late” he grinned.

She rolled her eyes, but her lips curled slightly. “All right then, but you better get me a nice souvenir.”

He smiled. “I'll get you a Fabergé egg.”


Result: Aimless banter, and Sidney is headed for Stasograd.

[Steve]

Spoiler

The reply to the Shroomanian government on the clarification of the customs issues amounted to a "Well, why didn't you just specify the concerned pathogens instead of a catch-all term? You created needless confusion by insisting on using a nonsensical term instead of specifying the pathogens you were concerned with.".

The response to the comment about medical exams for travelers is such: "The Cascadian government understands the Sovereignty's concerns for the health issues involved with world travel and we will agree to encourage those getting or renewing passports to get full physicals and health checkups before traveling. However, to require such before permitting a citizen to leave our nation is antithetical to the rights and liberties of a Cascadian citizen and will not be implemented."

[Shroom Man 777]

Spoiler

[Because I am too tired to write another preposterously long SCREED!

Though constantly going 'specifically Shinra' and 'Shinran sex-tourists' was awesomely fun!]

From Shroomania
To Cascadian

The reply to the Shroomanian government on the clarification of the customs issues amounted to a "Well, why didn't you just specify the concerned pathogens instead of a catch-all term? You created needless confusion by insisting on using a nonsensical term instead of specifying the pathogens you were concerned with.".

Well, that's because your State Department did insufficient research and apparently mistakenly mistook a popularized colloquial term used by laypersons in Shroomania to be actual-factual Mushroom medical terminology when it was not.

The response to the comment about medical exams for travelers is such: "The Cascadian government understands the Sovereignty's concerns for the health issues involved with world travel and we will agree to encourage those getting or renewing passports to get full physicals and health checkups before traveling.

Shroomania is pleased.

However, to require such before permitting a citizen to leave our nation is antithetical to the rights and liberties of a Cascadian citizen and will not be implemented."

Acceptable. To clarify, the Lord-Minister McMeistervater misspoke and has rectified his erroneous* statement. As said by a great Shroomanian**, 'freedom is the right of all sentient beings' and the Shroomanian government's policy respects the individuals' right to travel.

[OOC:*I will edit that. **Optimus Prime.]

[Siege]

ARMY UNVEILS NEXT-GENERATION EQUIPMENT
At the Rotherburgh Army Fair yesterday the North Frequesuan Army unveiled a line of new equipment to be incorporated into its arsenal. Part of defense motion RDB 17, better known as the 'Runaway Defense Budget', the army for the first time in the 21st century is to receive significant amounts of new equipment.

Spurred by the relatively peaceful state of the territories that border the NFT as well as the finalization of training of the first Foreign Legion brigades the army is all set for a modernization effort that will turn it into a modern, networked, highly mobile but far more compact fighting force ready for the second half of the new century.


Scorpion light tank
The UMA 66 Scorpion is a light tank of some 35 tons and the first new armored vehicle to enter service with the North Frequesuan Army in the 21st century. Light and nimble to the point where a single C-17 Globemaster III can move two Scorpions at once, this tank is to enhance the mobility and striking power of NFA armored spearheads, and provide armor support in low-end conflict zones where the presence of heavy tanks is deemed unnecessary.

The Scorpion is armed with a 105mm rifled electro-thermal cannon capable of firing a wide variety of next-generation ammunitions. The advanced gun system makes it possible to fire smaller rounds that still approach the firepower of a standard 120mm cannon. It also enables the Scorpion to carry more rounds than the much larger Silverado main battle tank.

The tank further has beyond-line-of-sight offensive firepower capability and a low profile due to its unmanned turret. Two remote weapons stations provide additional close-in firepower. Improved modular composite armor and underbelly armored protection offer enhanced safety for the crew. The tank crew can further use on-board computers to plug into networks in order to accommodate net-generation battle command technologies and are able to beam radio and satellite images, data, and video across the force in real time. The Scorpion also uses hybrid electric propulsion.


Ramrod self-propelled howitzer
The RA1203 Ramrod is a highly mobile 155mm self-propelled artillery cannon based on the chassis of the Scorpion light tank. This mobile armored artillery piece provides networked, extended-range targeting, and precision attack of point and area targets in support of other combat units with a suite of munitions that include special purpose capabilities. In this role it replaces the aging 155mm AUF1, which was based on the UMA 30 light tank chassis.

The system's role is to provide beyond-line-of-sight responsive fire in support of airborne and mechanized forces. One of the main advantages of the Ramrod is the ability to switch shell types quickly, allowing an illumination round to be followed by a point detonation round, to be followed by an area effect round. This gives the system the ability to fire different rounds as required by different fire calls or to change types of shells. Like the Scorpion, the Ramrod is force networked via improved communications and data capabilities.


RA270 MLRS Long Life Program
The LLP is a program intended to increase the effectivity of the venerable RA270 multiple launch rocket system. The range of MLRS projectiles will be expanded with a unitary warhead battlefield tactical missile with optional nuclear-strike capability, a round capable of delivering a small disposable UAV over a target as well as a range of 'smart' munitions such as next-gen SADARM, GLONASS-guided MLRS, heat- or radar-seeking rockets, kinetic penetration warheads for use against bunkers, new prefragmented armor piercing cluster bombs and napalm sub-munitions. Advances in propellant technology will push the maximum effective range of the 'Grid Square Removal Service' into the 150-200km zone.


Thunderbird Anti-Air System
The Thunderbird all-weather short to medium range anti-air missile system is intended as a successor to the UMA DCA 30 self-propelled anti-air gun system and will be used for force anti-air defense in the field. Mounted on the chassis of a Scorpion light tank the Thunderbird will be able to engage low to medium flight missiles and aircraft.

Thunderbird fires Mistral Next-Generation missiles. Despite the familiar name, the Mistral NG is an entirely new design, a Mach 4 hypervelocity missile with a load factor of 45 Gs, 80 km range, and 14 kg warhead with a kill radius of 8 meters. The system uses an S-Band APAR and a multi-beam tracking radar with a 175 km range as well as optical tracking equipment, and can be tied into the central CADC via satellite links.

Thunderbird can operate entirely autonomous of any human input. A standard anti-air system will pack 2x4 Mistral NG missiles, with a further 18 missiles in a magazine behind the turret.


Tiger Generation 2 combat helicopter
Tiger attack helicopter capabilities are set to be expanded through the addition of a laser rangefinder, TGAT third-generation anti-tank missiles, replacement of the chin-mounted 30mm cannon with a recoilless autocannon, capability to launch cluster bombs, better ballistic protection, a reduced radar cross section, upgraded engines and new avionics to better support networked warfare.


RARC-3 bullpup assault rifle
The RARC-3 will replace the venerable FAMAS family of rifles which has been the principal assault rifle of the NFA since its formation, and has been in service with the Sabikan, Coilerburger and San Doradan armies since its development in 1975. The rifle electronically fires 4.73x33mm caseless ammunition, half the weight and 40% the size of the older 5.56x45 rounds.

The new rifle will be disseminated through air assault units first, before reaching the mechanized brigades. A further RARC-3S is planned as a personal defense weapon for pilots and tank crews.


FELINE infantry combat system
The FELINE combat system, already in use with several elite airborne outfits as well as SOCOM units will be implemented progressively more widely across the entirety of the force including Foreign Legion parachute units. Army vehicles such as the Sandtiger APC, the Antlion IFV and the Tiger helicopter will be fitted with new computers and networking equipment in order to facilitate net-generation technologies.

Existing FELINE sets will be fitted with new hard ballistic protection armor inserts. The range of 'smart' grenade types available for the MPMW (multi-projectile multiple-weapon) will be expanded with 'ranged' programmable prefragmented high explosive grenades which deliver a burst of preformed armor piercing flechettes onto targets up to 500 meters away. A new electronic sight/passive rangefinder can be integrated with the RARC-3 to provide IFF, cutting down on friendly fire on the battlefield.


Dragonkite Fireball upgrade
The Fireball upgrade for the Dragonkite tactical stealth UAV enables the unmanned vehicle to fire a variety of missiles from four conformal underwing pods. The presence of weapons in all pods however will prevent the UAV from reaching its top speed of Mach 1.6, and will cut down on its maximum four hour endurance due to increased fuel consumption (unless fuel tanks are mounted). The Fireball upgrade will make the Dragonkite UAV into the first hunter-killer drone in service with the NFA. A modified version will be developed for the NFN.


Mantis UAV
The Mantis is part of Ralson Aerospace's Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicle (Experimental) (SUAVE) program and the corporation's third attempt at an UCAV, a stealthy twin-engined turboprop-powered drone with a wingspan of approximately 22 meters. The Mantis has 30 hour endurance and can be equipped with a variety of sensors and weapons systems, among which weapons to enable it to function in a close air support role. Mantis is equipped with an upward-facing satellite communications system, allowing operators to steer it from anywhere in the world, although according to Ralson Aerospace reports the goal is for Mantis to be able to 'think for itself' for a large part of its mission.


Result: Infodump on new gear I'm introducing over the coming months/years. I'll be doing similar ones for the air force, navy and rocket forces, though their respective lists are considerably shorter.